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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: mr alex ben <"www."@space.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: mr alex ben <mralexben006@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 08:18:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ARRIVED IN YOUR NEAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
I ARRIVED IN YOUR NEAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, with your box of consignment worth $7.5million USA dollars which I have
been instructed by Ministry of finance to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up
to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money.
I have presented the papers and handed it over to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented, but the
only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the box, one of the Airport Authority
has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful.
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $89 Dollars only to get the tag placed on the box as that
tag will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference, they scanned the box and found out that the fund is 100 % spend
able and accepted by any bank in the whole world.
As I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in Austria. Here are the papers backing the funds together with my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have I more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it is the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
Reconfirm the following information once again to enable you collect your delivery
as well.
NAME: =======================================
ADDRESS: ====================================
MOBILE NO.:==================================
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office in Benin Republic DHL COMPANY as they will get the tag here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority. DIPLOMATIC MR.Jerry Mikes
PAYMENT INSTRUCTION VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER IN THE NAME INFORMATION LISTED BELOWS.
RECEIVER NAME : JOHN OBI
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION: when
ANSWER: today
AMOUNT: $89.00 USD only
SENDER NAME…..
Money Controlling Number/MTCN……….after sending the payment to Our Head Office in Benin Republic DHL COMPANY email me the payment information such as mtcn number also senders name text question and answer to enable me reach them with the payment details so they can get the tags obtain and Fax it to me one hand so I can make my next step to your address today. (Here Is Your Package Unlocking CODE (AWB33XZS) Urgent Response is needed because here is very busy
Regard
DIP.ALEX Ben
DHL DIPLOMATIC AGENT BENIN REPUBLIC.
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Anti-fraud resources:
